MESOAMERICA EQ: 1) What is Mesoamerica? 2) What are some contributions from Mesoamerica & how do they impact us? 3) How does the development of Mesoamerica compare to the development of other civilizations?

What is Mesoamerica?  Aka Middle America  Central America & Mexico

THE OLMECS  BCE  1 st major American civilization  Settled along the gulf coast of Mexico  Devoted to religion, priests were honored

THE MAYAS ( CE)  CE

MAYAS-Farming & Trade  Advanced agricultural society  Most Mayans were farmers  Men cultivated, women made food  $$$ from profitable trade system  Traded across Central America  Honey, cocoa

MAYAS-Religion  Priests held very high social positions  Elaborate rituals held to ensure good harvests & war victories  Only the priests could conduct these rituals

MAYAS-Social Structure  Distinct social hierarchy  Each city-state had a ruling chief  1) Chief  2) Nobles  City officials & military leaders  3) Farmers  Ruling class mostly male, but women could obtain some power

MAYAS-Contributions  Agriculture  Grew more than enough food  Raised fields in the rainforest  Architecture  Giant pyramid temples & palaces  Paintings & carvings about history

MAYAS-Contributions  Education: Advanced Learning & Science  Hieroglyphic writing, books made of bark  Priests created accurate 365 day calendar  Number system and concept of 0 before Europeans

Archaeological Dig

Temples

Inside temple-no windows

DECLINE OF THE MAYAS  Around 900CE, the Mayas abandoned their cities…  Why? Experts still not certain...  Warfare?  Overpopulation leading to lack of food?  Lower classes revolt?  Language still spoken in Guatemala & southern Mexico